Inside Out Film and Video Festival

{{Infobox Film festival

| name = Inside Out Film and Video Festival

| image =File:Inside-out-logo.jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| opening =

| location = Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

| founded = 1991 (Toronto)
2007 (Ottawa)

| awardsreceived =

| awards =

| films =

| directors =

| producers =

| writers =

| starring =

| host =

| number =

| date = May (Toronto)
October (Ottawa)

| language = English

| website = {{URL| http://www.insideout.ca}}

}}

The Inside Out Film and Video Festival (formerly, Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival),{{cite web|title=Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival |url=https://arcs-atom.uottawa.ca/inside-out-lesbian-and-gay-film-and-video-festival |website=Archives and Special Collections |publisher=University of Ottawa |access-date=7 December 2023}} also known as the Inside Out LGBT or LGBTQ Film Festival,{{Cite web|last=Kay|date=2020-05-23|first=Jeremy|title=Digital events to mark 30th anniversary of Inside Out LGBT festival (exclusive)|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/digital-events-to-mark-30th-anniversary-of-inside-out-lgbt-festival-exclusive/5150076.article|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Screen|language=en}}{{Cite news|title=Toronto's Inside Out LGBTQ film festival postponed to October|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-torontos-inside-out-lgbtq-film-festival-postponed-to-october/|access-date=2020-07-21}} is an annual Canadian film festival, which presents a program of LGBT-related film.{{Cite book|chapter=Inside Out Film and Video Festival |title=Never Going Back: A History of Queer Activism in Canada|last=Warner|first=Tom|date=2002|pages=334–335|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=9781442677623|location=Toronto, Ont.|oclc=288096774}} The festival is staged in both Toronto and Ottawa.Joceline Andersen, [https://doi.org/10.3138/cjfs.21.1.38 "From the Ground Up: Transforming the Inside Out LGBT Film and Video Festival of Toronto"]. Canadian Journal of Film Studies, Volume 21 Issue 1, March 2012, pp. 38-57. Founded in 1991, the festival is now the largest of its kind in Canada.{{Cite web|title=Netflix, Inside Out team on initiative to support Canadian LGBTQ filmmakers|url=https://realscreen.com/2019/05/02/netflix-inside-out-team-on-initiative-to-support-canadian-lgbtq-filmmakers/|access-date=2020-07-21}} Deadline dubbed it "Canada’s foremost LGBTQ film festival."{{Cite web|last=Ramos|first=Dino-Ray|date=2020-07-09|title=Inside Out LGBTQ Film Festival Unveils Recipients For Re:Focus Emergency Relief Fund|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/inside-out-lgbtq-film-festival-refocus-emergency-relief-fun-covid-19-coronavirus-1202980838/|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Deadline|language=en}}

The organization also presents a series of film screenings throughout the year outside of the dedicated festival, as well as a touring program of short film screenings in smaller towns and cities within Southern Ontario. The organization's current executive director is Lauren Howes, who succeeded Andria Wilson in 2021.Barry Hertz, [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-torontos-inside-out-attempts-a-2021-film-festival-like-no-other/ "Toronto’s Inside Out attempts a 2021 film festival like no other"]. The Globe and Mail, May 24, 2021.

Toronto LGBT Film Festival

First held at Toronto's Euclid Theatre in 1991,"Film news". The Globe and Mail, March 22, 1991. Inside Out celebrated its festival with a small community of people who yearned to see film and video created by and about lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people. The festival was briefly the subject of controversy in 1993, when Metro Toronto council refused an arts grant to support the 1994 festival on the grounds of "community standards", even though the council had given grants to the festival in both 1991 and 1992 without issue."Committee refuses appeal on aid cut to gay film festival". The Globe and Mail, December 1, 1993. The festival was able to make up the lost funding that year when numerous arts organizations in the city, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Toronto International Film Festival, the National Ballet School, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, and the Danny Grossman Dance Company made donations to the festival."Gay filmfest kicks off". The Globe and Mail, May 28, 1994.

The festival has since expanded to incorporate a variety of programs related to the promotion and development of LGBT films and filmmakers in Canada.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2015/05/21/inside-out-film-festival-celebrates-25th-anniversary.html|title=Inside Out film festival celebrates 25th anniversary|last=Anderson|first=Jason|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=May 21, 2015|language=en|access-date=April 5, 2019}} Currently the largest event of its kind in Canada, Deadline dubbed it "Canada’s foremost LGBTQ film festival." Previously staged at a variety of venues in Toronto,{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2010/05/19/film_fest_explores_gay_lesbian_history.html|title=Film fest explores gay, lesbian history|last=DeMara|first=Bruce|date=May 19, 2010 |newspaper=Toronto Star |access-date=April 5, 2019}} the festival is now staged at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.{{cite news|url=https://nowtoronto.com/movies/features/inside-out-2018-announces-lineup/|title=Inside Out announces 2018 lineup|last=Wilner|first=Norman|newspaper=Now|date=May 4, 2018}}

Since 2009, RBC Royal Bank has served as the presenting sponsor of the Toronto Festival.{{Cite web|title=Inside Out|url=https://insideout.ca/about-us/|access-date=2020-07-21|language=en-CA}} The festival bills itself as "a not-for-profit registered charity that exists to challenge attitudes and change lives through the promotion, production and exhibition of film made by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people of all ages, races and abilities."

In 2016, a number of local activists launched the Toronto Queer Film Festival, an alternative intended for filmmakers and audiences who perceive Inside Out's current programming as too commercialized and mainstream.Chris Dupuis, [https://www.dailyxtra.com/how-one-local-festival-wants-to-bring-queer-back-to-toronto-71318 "How one local festival wants to bring queer back to Toronto"]. Daily Xtra, June 21, 2016.

In March 2020, the festival organizers announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the 2020 festival, normally scheduled for May, would be postponed to October.Kevin Ritchie, [https://nowtoronto.com/movies/features/inside-out-postponed-october-coronavirus/ "Inside Out film festival postponed over coronavirus concerns"]. Now, March 25, 2020. In July, they announced that the Toronto and Ottawa events would be combined into a single digital event.Norman Wilner, [https://web.archive.org/web/20200728220758/https://nowtoronto.com/news/inside-out-2020-sets-a-date-and-announces-its-short-film-program "Inside Out 2020 is happening (online) in October"]. Now, July 28, 2020. Due to the unique online nature of the event, the winners of the juried awards were announced at the beginning of the festival, as a tool to help publicize the winners during the festival,[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2020/10/05/inside-out-lgbt-film-fest-reveals-prize-winners-early.html "Inside Out LGBT film fest reveals prize winners early"]. Toronto Star, October 5, 2020. although audience-voted awards were still announced after the festival's conclusion.

The 2021 festival returned to the event's traditional scheduling in late May, although it was still staged online. The event was available to viewers throughout Ontario; the films in the Spotlight on Canada program were screened for free through a sponsorship agreement with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.Jeremy Kay, [https://www.screendaily.com/news/language-lessons-to-open-torontos-inside-out/5159327.article "'Language Lessons' to open Toronto’s Inside Out"]. Screen Daily, May 3, 2021.

The online platform that was used for both the 2020 and 2021 festivals is also planned to remain in permanent operation, both as a year-round distribution platform for LGBTQ films and as an additional accessibility option once the festival is able to return to traditional physical screenings.

Ottawa LGBT Film Festival

In 2007, the Inside Out festival expanded to Ottawa,"Gay ghosts premiere at film fest; Poltergay will appeal to all audiences, says festival director". Ottawa Citizen, October 24, 2007. soon after the demise of the city's earlier Making Scenes Film and Video Festival."Festival comes out with more movies". Kingston Whig-Standard, January 12, 2005. Originally presented at the ByTowne Cinema, since 2016 the event has been staged at the National Gallery of Canada.[https://www.dailyxtra.com/five-films-not-to-miss-at-inside-out-2017-ottawas-lgbt-film-festival-80929 "Five films not to miss at Inside Out 2017, Ottawa’s LGBT film festival"]. Daily Xtra, November 6, 2017.

In 2009, the festival faced controversy when the Canada Border Services Agency impounded prints of the films Patrik, Age 1.5, I Can't Think Straight, and Clapham Junction that were en route to the festival, even though all three films had previously been screened elsewhere in Canada without incident."Ottawa film festival upset after gay-themed films seized at border". Canadian Press, November 22, 2009.

Other programs

In addition to the annual film festival events, the Inside Out organization also offers a number of dedicated training and funding programs to foster the creation of LGBT-themed film in Canada.

In 1998, with the support of Charles Street Video, Inside Out initiated the Queer Video Mentorship Project to provide opportunities for youth to learn video production in a supportive atmosphere."Coming out at Inside Out festival". National Post, May 14, 2005. Queer youth under the age of 25 are mentored through the process of making their first videos, from storyboarding and shooting to post-production and editing. In celebration of the festival's 20th anniversary in 2010, Inside Out expanded this into a multi-generational program bringing together LGBT youth and seniors over the age of 55. To date, close to 100 new artists have created work through the project.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} The works are screened at the festival and many go on to play at festivals around the globe. Each year, the works are compiled and distributed free to schools and community organizations.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

In 2001, Inside Out launched the inaugural John Bailey Film and Video Completion Fund. Named in recognition of the contribution of a longtime Inside Out supporter and advisory board member, the fund awards grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 to Canadian filmmakers with work in the final stages of production.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Inaugurated in 2002, the Mark S. Bonham Scholarship for Queer Studies in Film and Video awards a $5,000 cash scholarship to a Canadian student who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, to pursue post-secondary studies in the field of film or video.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/12/23/mark-bonham-calls-himself-a-financial-punk-why-he-went-from-raising-hell-to-raising-money-for-lgbtq-causes.html|title=Mark Bonham calls himself a financial 'punk.' Here's why he's now raising money for LGBTQ causes|last=Winsa|first=Patty|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=December 23, 2018}} The first scholarship was awarded in September 2002 to Adam Garnet Jones from Vancouver.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} Subsequent recipients were Mary Fogarty, Christopher Sanchez, Jung Kim, Cam Matamoros, Jo Simalaya Alcampo, Rachel Smyth, and Jordan Tannahill.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

In 2018, the festival launched the Focus Fund to support work by LGBTQ female and non-binary filmmakers.{{cite news|url=https://nowtoronto.com/inside-out/new-fund-supports-LGBTQ-non-binary-filmmakers/|title=New fund supports LGBTQ women and non-binary filmmakers|last=Olsen|first=Deidre|newspaper=Now|date=June 4, 2018}} It also organizes an annual Finance Forum, providing an opportunity for emerging filmmakers to pitch LGBT-related projects in development to potential production funders.Leo Barraclough, [https://variety.com/2020/film/festivals/inside-out-lgbtq-film-festival-finance-forum-1234601755/ "Inside Out LGBTQ Film Festival Reveals Finance Forum Lineup"]. Variety, May 8, 2020.

In 2019, the festival partnered with streaming service Crave as a branding partner on the service's new portal for LGBTQ film and television content,[http://playbackonline.ca/2019/05/01/crave-puts-spotlight-on-lgbtq-content/ "Crave puts spotlight on LGBTQ content"]. Playback, May 1, 2019. as well as launching a partnership with Netflix to support the development and funding of new LGBTQ-oriented film and television content in Canada.[https://www.cbc.ca/arts/with-a-little-help-from-netflix-inside-out-is-opening-major-doors-for-the-future-of-lgtbq-stories-1.5145741 "With a little help from Netflix, Inside Out is opening major doors for the future of LGTBQ stories"]. CBC Arts, May 23, 2019.

In 2020, through the Focus Fund, the festival launched a special emergency relief fund, offering grants of up to $2,500 to projects impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.Kelly Townsend, [https://playbackonline.ca/2020/05/12/inside-out-launches-emergency-relief-funding-for-lgbtq-projects/ "Inside Out launches emergency relief funding for LGBTQ projects"]. Playback, May 12, 2020. The festival was also one of the key partners, alongside Outfest Los Angeles, the Frameline Film Festival, and the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival, in launching the North American Queer Festival Alliance, an initiative to further publicize and promote LGBT film.Jeff Ewing, [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffewing/2020/06/17/major-lgbtq-film-festivals-partner-to-create-the-north-american-queer-festival-alliance-naqfa/#497c15f9633c "Major LGBTQ Film Festivals Partner To Create The ‘North American Queer Festival Alliance’ (NAQFA)"]. Forbes, June 17, 2020.

Inside Out Arts Endowment Fund

The Inside Out Arts Endowment Fund was established in December 2001 through the Ontario Arts Foundation to provide a stable base of funding for Inside Out in the future.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} The fund was created thanks to a generous founding gift from Mark Bonham of $200,000, and it is currently valued at close to $300,000.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} Supporters of Inside Out can make tax-deductible donations specifically to the Endowment Fund.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Awards

=Audience Award for Best Feature Film=

1998 - Everything Will Be Fine (Alles wird gut), Angelina Maccarone
1999 - Better Than Chocolate, Anne Wheeler
2000 - The Adventures of Felix (Drôle de Félix), Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau
2001 - Big Eden, Thomas Bezucha
2002 - Gypsy 83, Todd Stephens
2003 - Madame Satã, Karim Aïnouz
2004 - Latter Days, C. Jay Cox
2005 - Saving Face, Alice Wu
2006 - A Love to Hide, Christian Faure
2007 - The Bubble, Eytan Fox"Sijie Dai film named Best Feature at Inside Out fest". The Globe and Mail, May 29, 2007.
2008 - Were the World Mine, Tom Gustafson
2009 - The Baby Formula, Alison ReidMike Vokins, [https://xtramagazine.com/culture/is-it-real-or-science-fiction-12934 "Is it real or science fiction?"]. Xtra!, June 17, 2009.
2010 - The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister, James Kent"Inside Out Film Festival winners". National Post, June 1, 2010.
2011 - Weekend, Andrew Haigh
2012 - Margarita, Dominique Cardona and Laurie Colbert[http://playbackonline.ca/2012/06/01/margarita-grabs-audience-award-at-inside-out-festival/ "Margarita grabs audience award at Inside Out Festival"]. Playback, June 1, 2012.
2013 - Reaching for the Moon, Bruno Barreto
2014 - Tru Love, Kate Johnston and Shauna MacDonald
2015 - 4th Man Out, Andrew Nackman[http://playbackonline.ca/2015/06/01/what-we-have-takes-best-canadian-feature-at-inside-out/ "What We Have takes best Canadian feature at Inside Out"]. Playback, June 1, 2015.
2016 - Angry Indian Goddesses, Pan Nalin[http://www.northernstars.ca/closet-monster-wins-inside/ "Closet Monster Wins at Inside Out"]. Northern Stars, June 7, 2016.
2017 - Sisterhood, Tracy Choi[http://playbackonline.ca/2017/06/06/rebels-on-pointe-takes-best-canadian-feature-at-inside-out/ "Rebels on Pointe takes best Canadian feature at Inside Out"]. Playback, June 6, 2017.
2018 - White Rabbit, Daryl Wein[https://www.screendaily.com/news/white-rabbit-wins-2018-inside-out-lgbt-film-festival-audience-award/5129867.article "'White Rabbit' wins 2018 Inside Out LGBT Film Festival audience award"]. Screen Daily, June 4, 2018.
2019 - Billie and Emma, Samantha Lee[https://nowtoronto.com/movies/features/inside-out-2019-award-winners/ "Billie And Emma wins audience award at Inside Out 2019"]. Now, June 3, 2019.
2020 - Gossamer Folds, Lisa Donato
2021 - Love, Spells and All That, Ümit Ünal{{cite magazine|author=Amber Dowling|url=https://playbackonline.ca/2021/06/07/fanny-the-right-to-rock-nabs-best-canadian-feature-at-inside-out/|title=Fanny: The Right to Rock nabs Best Canadian Feature at Inside Out|magazine=Playback|date=June 7, 2021}}
2022 - We Will Never Belong, Amelia EloisaPatrick Hipes, [https://deadline.com/2022/06/2022-inside-out-2slgbtq-film-festival-winners-list-1235039066/ "Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival Winners Include ‘We Will Never Belong’, ‘Homebody’, More"]. Deadline Hollywood, June 6, 2022.
2023 - I Used to Be Funny, Ally PankiwValerie Complex, [https://deadline.com/2023/06/insideout-2slgbtq-film-festival-announces-2023-award-winner-1235410025/ "InsideOut 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival Announces 2023 Award Winners"]. Deadline Hollywood, June 6, 2023.
2024 - Sisters, Susie YankouValerie Complex, [https://deadline.com/2024/06/inside-out-2slgbtq-film-festival-unveils-2024-award-recipients-1235957790/ "‘A Mother Apart’ Wins Top Prize At Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival Awards"]. Deadline Hollywood, June 3, 2024.

=Audience Award for Best Short Film=

1998 - Jangri, Safiya Randera and My Cunt, Deb Strutt and Liz Baulch
1999 - Below the Belt, Laurie Colbert and Dominique Cardona; Pom, Joanna Ingalls and Mocha Jean Herrup
2000 - Crush, Phillip Bartell
2001 - Interviews with My Next Girlfriend, Cassandra Nicolaou
2002 - Dildo Diaries, Laura Barton, Judy Wilder and Carol Cunningham
2003 - I Am Good Inside, Jo Si Malaya
2004 - Listen, Susan Justin
2005 - Irene Williams: Queen of Lincoln Road, Eric Smith
2006 - Latch Key, Garth Bardsley and In Search of My Chinese Girlfriend, Lisa Wong
2007 - Hello, My Name Is Herman, Karine Silverwoman
2008 - Pariah, Dee Rees
2009 - Get Happy: A Coming of Age Musical Extravaganza, Mark Payne
2010 - The Armoire, Jamie Travis
2011 - Change, Melissa Osborne and Jeff McCutcheon
2012 - N/A
2013 - Stop Calling Me Honey Bunny, Gabrielle Zilkha[http://playbackonline.ca/2013/06/07/weekly-roundup-distribution-awards-and-funding-news/ "Weekly roundup: distribution, awards and funding news"]. Playback, June 7, 2013.
2014 - Living in the Overlap, Cindy Hill and Mary Dalton
2015 - In the Hollow, Austin Lee Bunn
2016 - Oh-Be-Joyful, Susan Jacobson
2017 - Picture This, Jari Osborne
2018 - Pop Rox, Nate Trinrud
2019 - Thrive, Jamie Dispirito
2020 - The Butterfly, Shiho Fukada
2021 - Noor & Layla, Fawzia Mirza
2022 - How Not to Date While Trans, Nyala Moon
2023 - Apayauq, Zeppelin Zeerip
2024 - The History of the Carabiner, Gianna Mazzeo

=Best Canadian Film=

1998 - The Grace of God, John L'Ecuyer"Stacey Donen: Hoping for discovery". Playback, July 6, 2009.
1999 - Laugh in the Dark, Justine Pimlott
2000 - Johnny Greyeyes, Jorge Manzano
2001 - Hey, Happy!, Noam Gonick; My Left Breast, Gerry Rogers
2002 - Miss 501: A Portrait of Luck, Clint Alberta
2003 - Saved by the Belles, Ziad Touma
2004 - Sugar, John Palmer"Inside Out fest names Sugar best feature". Toronto Star, May 31, 2004.
2005 - Everyone, Bill Marchant
2006 - Amnesia: The James Brighton Enigma, Denis Langlois; 533 Statements, Tori Foster
2007 - The Chinese Botanist's Daughters, Dai Sijie
2008 - Be Like Others, Tanaz Eshaghian
2009 - Fig Trees, John Greyson
2010 - Mark, Mike Hoolboom
2011 - Home of the Buffalo, Rémy Huberdeau
2012 - She Said Boom: The Story of Fifth Column, Kevin Hegge
2013 - For Dorian, Rodrigo Barriuso
2014 - Tom at the Farm, Xavier Dolan
2015 - What We Have (Ce qu'on a), Maxime Desmons
2016 - Closet Monster, Stephen Dunn
2017 - Rebels on Pointe, Bobbi Jo Hart
2018 - Love, Scott, Laura Marie Wayne
2019 - Drag Kids, Megan Wennberg
2020 - No Ordinary Man, Aisling Chin-Yee and Chase Joynt
2021 - Fanny: The Right to Rock, Bobbi Jo Hart
2022 - Out in the Ring, Ry Levey
2023 - Supporting Our Selves, Lulu Wei
2024 - A Mother Apart, Laurie Townshend

=Best First Feature Film (Bill Sherwood Award)=

2009 - To Each Her Own, Heather Tobin
2010 - Plan B, Marco Berger
2011 - Black Field, Vardis Marinakis
2012 - N/A
2013 - Animals, Marçal Forés
2014 - 52 Tuesdays, Sophie Hyde
2015 - How to Win at Checkers (Every Time), Josh Kim
2016 - Spa Night, Andrew Ahn
2017 - God's Own Country, Francis Lee
2018 - Retablo, Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio
2019 - A Dog Barking at the Moon, Xiang Zi
2020 - No Hard Feelings (Futur Drei), Faraz Shariat
2021 - Sweetheart, Marley Morrison
2022 - Homebody, Joseph Sackett
2023 - Almamula, Juan Sebastian Torales
2024 - A Mother Apart, Laurie Townshend

=Best Documentary=

1998 - The Brandon Teena Story, Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir
1999 - I Know a Place, Roy Mitchell
2000 - Living with Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100, Yvonne Welbon
2001 - Queen of the Whole Wide World, Roger Hyde
2002 - Ruthie and Connie: Every Room in the House, Deborah Dickson
2003 - Children of the Crocodile, Marsha Emerman
2004 - Superstar in a Housedress, Craig B. Highberger
2005 - Fag Hags: Women Who Love Gay Men, Justine Pimlott
2006 - The End of Second Class, Nancy Nicol
2007 - Red Without Blue, Benita Sills, Todd Sills and Brooke Sebold
2008 - She's a Boy I Knew, Gwen Haworth
2009 - Ferron: Girl on a Road, Gerry Rogers
2010 - The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, Leanne Pooley
2011 - We Were Here, David Weissman
2012 - N/A
2013 - Bridegroom, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
2014 - Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine, Michele Josue
2015 - Game Face, Michiel Thomas
2016 - Major!, Annalise Ophelian
2017 - Chavela, Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi
2018 - Call Her Ganda, PJ Raval
2019 - We Are the Radical Monarchs, Linda Goldstein Knowlton
2020 - Little Girl (La petite fille), Sébastien Lifshitz
2021 - A Sexplanation, Alexander Liu
2022 - Gateways Grind, Jacquie Lawrence
2023 - Leilani's Fortune, Loveleen Kaur
2024 - A Mother Apart, Laurie Townshend

=Best Canadian Short Film=

1998 - Why I Hate Bees, Sarah Abbott
1999 - Swerve, Andrea Dorfman
2000 - Helpless Maiden Makes an I Statement, Thirza Cuthand; Unmapping Desire, Sheila James; Quiver, Scott Beveridge
2001 - Rainmakers Zimbabwe, Robbie Hart; Sea in the Blood, Richard Fung; Viens Dehors! (Come Out!), Éric Tessier
2002 - Play, She Said, Lex Vaughn; The Salivation Army, Scott Treleaven
2003 - This Boy, Amy Burt; Audition Tape, Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay
2004 - Listen, Susan Justin; A Moth and a Butterfly, Gilbert Kwong
2005 - Girl on Girl, Miss Nomer Collective
2006 - Jean Genet in Chicago, Frederic Moffat; Sweater People, Nicole Chung
2007 - The Saddest Boy in the World, Jamie Travis; Black Men and Me, Michèle Pearson Clarke
2008 - For a Relationship, Jim Verburg
2009 - The Golden Pin, Cuong Ngo
2010 - Rex vs. Singh, Richard Fung, John Greyson and Ali Kazimi
2011 - Dance to Miss Chief, Kent Monkman
2012 - Narcissus, Coral Short
2013 - Stop Calling Me Honey Bunny, Gabrielle Zilkha
2014 - Waack Revolt: A Dance Film, Sonia Hong
2015 - Hole, Martin Edralin
2016 - Never Steady, Never Still, Kathleen Hepburn
2017 - Picture This, Jari Osborne
2018 - The Things You Think I'm Thinking, Sherren Lee
2019 - Soft Spot, Justine Stevens
2020 - Swimmers, Chris Ross
2021 - You Will Still Be Here Tomorrow, Michael Hanley
2022 - Thot or Not, Dylan Glynn
2023 - Adore, Beth Warrian
2024 - Friend of a Friend (Ami d'ami), Simon Gualtieri